Nation's First 'Emergency Evacuation Route for Underpass Flooding' Installation Promoted by Busan City!

Need for Proactive Measures to Prevent Underpass Flooding Accidents and Casualties

Step-by-Step Project Implementation from 2024 to 2026 Targeting 34 Underpasses in the City

Busan City is the first in the nation to promote the ‘Underpass Emergency Escape Route Securing Project’ targeting 34 underpasses in the city.

Emergency Evacuation Route Installation Standards.

This emergency escape route securing project is being proactively implemented to prevent repeated casualties caused by underpass flooding due to recent extreme heavy rains.

Since the flooding accident at Choryang 1st Underpass in early 2020, most underpasses in the city have been equipped with blocking systems such as barriers, water level gauges, and CCTVs to completely block entry and respond to flooding accidents.

However, risks remain that people could become trapped inside underpasses during sudden flooding caused by extreme heavy rains, such as the flooding accident at Osong Gungpyeong 2nd Underpass last July.

The city conducted a full survey and on-site inspections of underpasses and, after various reviews and consultations with district offices, Busan Facilities Corporation, and others, prepared this ‘Emergency Escape Route Installation Standard Plan.’

Until now, there have been no separate regulations related to underpass flood evacuation facilities, making this the first case nationwide to secure emergency escape routes in preparation for underpass flooding.

The standard plan consists of two approaches. The first is ▲securing emergency escape routes by utilizing existing emergency exits and connecting passages (stairs, ladders, etc.) installed inside the underpasses.

The second approach is, when securing escape routes using existing facilities is impossible, to newly install ‘emergency evacuation facilities’ such as ▲emergency ladders ▲evacuation guide handrails ▲life-saving boxes ▲emergency guide signs to quickly and safely guide evacuation on both sides of the underpass entrances.

Going forward, based on this standard plan, the city plans to cooperate with facility management entities such as district offices and Busan Facilities Corporation to secure emergency escape routes step-by-step from next year through 2026 according to the priority of facility risk assessments.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “Every year, large and small flooding accidents are repeated due to global climate anomalies and record-breaking heavy rains,” adding, “To prepare for situations where people can become trapped in underpasses in an instant, we will do our best in road safety management in Busan City to ensure the safety of every citizen’s life through this underpass emergency escape route securing project.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.